Outdoor Living Porch

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This space mirrors both the function and the layout of an interior living room. An outdoor sofa and club chairs are arranged around a central hearth. This design makes visiting with friends outside seamless and just as comfortable as sitting indoors. No need to fear pattern when upholstering your furniture—a bright green and white swirl-patterned fabric brightens up this space. The light fabric and flooring balances the gravity provided by the ceiling, which is painted in a dark green hue, and the fireplace, which is built from an array of rounded stone. The effect of these additions is balanced, snug, and welcoming.

80 Breezy Porches and Patios

Patios and porches are an integral part of Southern culture. These classics are inviting and inspiring.

It’s no secret that we Southerners live for our porches. Is there any memory sweeter than those of childhood suppers on screened porches, or swinging the night away on the perfectly-designed porch. Face it: we pay for our mild winters with our sultry summers, and while modern air-conditioning may have made those deep porches of the past unnecessary, our Southern spirit just can’t imagine our homes without our porches, whether they’re wraparound, screened in, or a whole new porch design idea. A farmhouse porch just begs for a deep swing, piled with pillows and a tiny place to plant your iced tea. Maybe the classic white porch, with a row of inviting rocking chairs, is your style. Trust us, porch design ideas are something we take very seriously down here. We love a cozy Charleston piazza just as much as a natural screened in porch that invites the landscape “inside.” Take a look at some of our favorite porch designs; maybe you’ll find some ideas for your own perfect perch.